How race car driving is saving veterans’ lives

It sounds unorthodox, but for some veterans, race car driving has saved their lives.

They're a part of Young Veterans, an organisation built by a new generation of former soldiers who served in the more recent Middle East conflicts.

The organisation now fights to rescue veterans from their own inner battles - and stop the horrific post-deployment death toll.

"There's a cause going on where we've had 87 suicides last year from military members," Young Veterans member Leigh Saly told A Current Affair.

Mr Saly was a naval storeman for 20 years and has struggled with the transition back to civilian life.

On Anzac Day last year, Mr Saly hit a particularly low point - his own footsteps almost falling silent.

But in the 12 months since, he has found solace on the race car track with the Young Veterans, and marched in today's Anzac Day parade.

"Through Young Veterans, we get to become a team again, we do activities and we've got our race team now which is fantastic, something I never thought I'd be involved in," Mr Saly said.

Former navy aircraft technician Matthew Keene, who served in Iraq, is another member of the organisation.

"It's played a massive role in my life, and especially in the last few years it's really helped me a lot when I started to suffer a bit more from my PTSD and anxiety," he said.

Stephen Gregory, who only returned to civilian life last year, is the team's driver.

"I've got close friends of mine who have had significant mental health issues who have had had stints in hospital," he said.

"I've had friends of mine who have committed suicide as well and they're in the back of my mind.

"I'm racing to promote their stories and what's happened to them."

But Mr Saly says there's more to be done - especially considering the Young Veterans run purely on donations.

He called on the Department of Veterans Affairs to support returned service personnel better.

"DVA just don't want a bar of you," he said.

Visit the Young Veterans website here.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.

MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78.

Multicultural Mental Health Australia www.mmha.org.au.